Media centre

Monday 2 Aug 2004

“UNDER STARTER’S ORDERS”

Region & Route:

| Southern

MULTI-MILLION POUND TRACK RENEWALS PROJECT STARTS SOON

£7.5 million worth of railway engineering work between Wimbledon and Sutton will start on Saturday 7 August.  The huge programme of work is scheduled to take four weeks with the line reopening to passenger services on Tuesday 31 August. Andrew Munden, Network Rail Route Director said: “More than 300 railway workers are ready to get on track and get started.  This work will deliver long-term benefits in performance and reliability for the passengers who use this line. In total ten miles of track, 17,000 sleepers and 38,500 tonnes of ballast have been ordered to renew the railway between Wimbledon and Sutton.” During the four-week closure passengers will be able to use a half-hourly replacement bus service between Wimbledon and Sutton. Southern (trains) will also accept Thameslink tickets for passengers from Carshalton, Hackbridge and Mitcham Junction. Amended timetables are available from stations along the route and are also online at www.thameslink.co.uk. Passengers may also contact National Rail Enquiries on 08457 48 49 50. Chris Hudson, Communications Manager, Thameslink said: “Our passengers should now be aware of the four-week closure following a comprehensive publicity campaign in the Sutton and Wimbledon areas. We understand that the work may cause delays to journeys but hope that passengers understand the benefits this investment will bring.”